Severity of Flu Season Was High for Children, Teens in 2022 to 2023
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Oct. 13, 2023 -- For children and adolescents, the 2022 to 2023 influenza season had high severity, according to research published in the Oct. 13 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Elizabeth B. White, Ph.D., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues describe the 2022 to 2023 influenza season among children and adolescents aged younger than 18 years, including seasonal severity.
The researchers found that compared with thresholds based on previous seasons' influenza-associated outpatient visits, hospitalization rates, and deaths, the 2022 to 2023 influenza season had high severity among children and adolescents. Compared with previous seasons, the incidences of influenza-associated outpatient visits and hospitalization for the 2022 to 2023 season were similar for children aged younger than 5 years and higher for those aged 5 to 17 years. Late November and early December saw peak influenza-associated outpatient and hospitalization activity. Compared with the previous season, a lower proportion of children and adolescents hospitalized with influenza during the 2022 to 2023 season in hospitals participating in the Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network were vaccinated (18.3 versus 35.8 to 41.8 percent). Receipt of influenza antiviral treatment was lower among symptomatic hospitalized patients than during pre-COVID-19-pandemic seasons (64.9 versus 80.8 to 87.1 percent).
"The 2022-23 influenza season was classified as high severity for children and adolescents based on influenza-associated outpatient visits, hospitalization rates, and deaths," the authors write. "All persons aged ≥6 months are recommended by CDC to receive the annual seasonal influenza vaccine, ideally by the end of October."
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted October 2023
Read this next
Physical Activity in Middle Age Improves Health Among Women
FRIDAY, May 3, 2024 -- Adherence to physical activity guidelines during middle age appears to improve health-related quality of life among women, according to a study...
Diabetes Increases Risk for Functional Limitations in Older Adults
FRIDAY, May 3, 2024 -- Older adults with diabetes are more likely to develop functional limitations than adults without diabetes, according to a study published online April 16 in...
2020 Cancer Screening Rates Low at Federally Qualified Health Centers
FRIDAY, May 3, 2024 -- In 2020, there were major gaps in screening clients at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) for various types of cancer when compared with the general...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.